Spring Cleaning!

Its that time of year!  Time to roll up your sleeves, tie back your hair and open the windows for some fresh air.  Spring cleaning is here!!  So, put on some music and get your mops and buckets out to get your Jewel Box® Home ready for spring weather. 

Spring Cleaning Tips:

1.  Get Organized!

Eliminate clutter.  Sort through old mail, stacks of paper and magazines.  Don't be afraid to throw things away that have no significance or value.  If you don't love it or need it-pitch it, donate it or give it away!  All the odds and ends that you keep, store in decorative, labeled boxes or baskets and file them away.

2.  Transition out your wardrobe.

Have winter clothes and coats cleaned and box them up for lighter jackets and short sleeves.  Yeah for sunshine and warmer weather!

3.  Freshen up bedrooms.

Flip and vacuum mattresses, hang pillows outside to freshen.  Wash your mattress pad and bedskirt.  Clean the bedroom windows and vacuum draperies.

4.   Scrub the floor!!

Wash tile and wood floors.  Have rugs and carpets professionally cleaned.  Don't forget the baseboards!

5.  Light fixtures and ceiling fans!

Now is the time to clean light fixtures, ceiling fans and lampshades.  Using a vacuum attachment with a brush or a microfiber cloth works wonders.

6. Don't Forget About Bathrooms.

Yes, I know we all clean our bathrooms every week...but we don't deep clean them!  Now it's time to battle clutter and refresh old products.  Go through your medicine cabinets and safely discard any outdated products.  Replace worn bath mats, shower curtains, and liners, or wash and dry shower curtains and liners.

7.Organize the kitchen.

Clear out your pantry, cabinets and drawers.  Replace shelf paper and wipe down cabinet faces.  Donate equipment you don't use regularly.  Discard dated spices and canned foods.  Clean your refrigerator and freezer.  Don't forget the top of the fridge!

8.  Wash those windows!

Best glass cleaner ever:  2 Tablespoons of vinegar in one quart of water.  Use squeegie and a lint-free cloth!  Sparkling clean.

If you were really industrious you could also extend your spring cleaning to your car and give it the seasonal scrub it needs as well!  When you are finished with your heavy work regime, put on the coffee pot, put your feet up and enjoy the fruits of your labors.  A sparkling home full of love for friends and family members!

Happy Cleaning!

~Amber

All Photos Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Closet Chaos

Before treating you to a wonderful post about closets from Amber, I just wanted to let you know that posts from me may be infrequent for awhile.  My wonderful husband is still out of work and it's taking a toll on the family.  I am especially feeling the stress as we consider our options and whether to sell the house.  But as you know, Amber will take very good care of our little 'Jewel Box Home' community and you can expect to hear from her on a weekly basis.  

And now for Amber's insightful and funny post about closets in small houses.  She also has some great tips!

Photo Courtesy of JD Organizer

Is this your closet?  Do you have ample space for perfectly hung apparel and labeled boxes of shoes according to season?  Do you have a folding station in your closet and floor to ceiling mirrors?  Is there a separate cabinet for jewelry and accessories?  Shelves for handbags?  This is not my closet.  My closet is tiny and things fall out of it when you open the door.  I have stacks of handbags and shoes and hats piled on the shelves right up to the ceiling and there are belts hung on a rack that slide off each time I take just one off which means that I normally just go without a belt because I don't want to pick them all up!

Fall weather is quickly upon us and I have been staring with dismay at my sad little closet these past weeks, knowing full well that I need to sort through it as I do each season to weed out summer clothing and replace it with fall and winter wear.  But I don't wanna!!  It is an all day task for me and I just sigh and lean into the door as I close it hoping I can just wear a jacket over short sleeves for the rest of the week.

To get myself motivated to tackle the chore, I have been perusing others' lovely organized storage spaces.   

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

I have decided the key to closet organization must be cleverness.  You can't let the small space beat you!  I think the trick is to have the correct storage solutions on hand.  This hanging shoe rack is an inexpensive way to keep shoes out from under the bed or on the closet floor.  

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

These basic, stick-on utility hooks cost less than $2 for a pack of three and help utilize every square inch of closet space while providing a place for hats or bags to hang without crushing them!

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

Out of season clothing or even just items that can't be hung like sweaters or jackets can be stored in these decorative cardboard boxes and stored underneath hanging clothes or at the bottom of a stack of storage boxes.  You could even store winter boots in these cute containers.

 

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

My belts may stay hung on this coat rack!  Perfect for scarves too.  I better put this on my list. 

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

My problem often lies with mixing my belongings up with my husbands in our tiny space.  I find that being diplomatic is hard with my jeans are mixed in with his jeans!  My goal this season is to ensure we each have our own space in the closet and no inter-marrying of clothing happens by accident any more!  I love the canvas totes in this closet.  What a perfect way to store purses and bags.  And the shoe cubbies can be used for his hats too!

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

By sliding a jewelry organizer into the cubby, this closet owner ensured that she could accessorize easily.  You could also purchase silverware containers for jewelry use to maximize space as well.

 Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

This wall-mounted trouser hanger may be the solution to my jean connundrum.  For less than $10 I can keep our slacks separate and nicely ironed!

I think I'm motivated and passionate about my closet chaos now!  I can do this...I'm ready!!

~Amber  

Let's Get Organized! Storage Part Two!

Help me!!! I'm trapped inside this house and I can't get out! Well, maybe it's not that bad, but the weather here is just awful. We had our first blizzard in over 25 years, with sub zero temperatures and a biting wind. Needless to say, we are all occupying ourselves indoors these days. This situation has it's upside in that I am giving my little cottage some much needed attention. My closets slowly re-organized themselves last week and now I'm turning to the kitchen and bath and other problem areas of my house. Junk drawers, bathroom cabinets, computer stations, craft cabinets-they're all getting a taste of my cabin fever!

Here are some helpful hints for some clever storage solutions for a small home that I am attempting to take advantage of this winter.

Take advantage of the backs of doors!
The backs of doors can be painted with metallic paint and hung with magnetic towel hooks and removable bins. Store shampoo, towels and toiletries in bathrooms. Hang jewelry, store cosmetics and accessories on the backs of bedroom doors.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Use computer armoires to hide unsightly technology.
These are also great craft cabinets. Just close the doors for instant clean up!

Use transitional spaces.
Those unused areas like small hallways between garage and kitchen or the narrow space next to the back door are perfect spots for a nice cabinet to hold sports gear, cleaning supplies or a message center.

Assign each family member their own space.
For a family bathroom or mudroom, keep personal items organized with a portable tote or basket for each family member. These can easily be stored in a linen closet or under the bathroom sink after use.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Use your drawers!
Installing a simple peg-board in an existing drawer can allow for more storage for dishes and tableware. Since the pegs are adjustable, this drawer can be flexible for your unique needs.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Store more in your cabinets by using your vertical space.
Adding hanging baskets on the backs of cabinet doors gives you storage options you didn't realize you had.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Slip it under the bed.
Store winter sweaters, blankets, and luggage in bins under the bed.

Hang it up!
Hang a pot rack over the sink to wash pots and hang to dry! Stylish and convenient, a pot rack adds to your kitchen's decor.

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

My favorite part of the organizational process is when an idea for storage turns into a beautiful addition to my home's decor!

Amber